Marlboro County ScArchives History - Books .....Chapter VI Pearson Family, And Others. 1897
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Book Title: A History Of Marlboro County

CHAPTER VI 
PEARSON FAMILY, AND OTHERS.

  We begin this chapter with the name Pearson, which has been largely
represented in all the years of our history. The first was Aaron, who came from
one of the English settlements of Virginia in colonial times. He was the father
of two sons, Aaron and Moses. The latter owned, and lived upon, what was called
the "big plantation," now known as "Lowdon." He was prominent in Revolutionary
affairs. First, as Lieutenant in Hicks' Regiment in 1780, and in the two
following years a captain in Benton's Regiment. After the war his name
frequently appeared upon the records of the old Brownsville. church, as well as
upon those of the county courts. He was one of the first justices of Marlboro
and seems to have presided over the court, and before the county was organized
he held position and took part in judicial affairs in the old district of
Cheraw. He is said to have been the father of fifteen children, eight sons and
seven daughters. One daughter became Mrs. Haskew, another Mrs. Gmlloway, and the
Johns are some way Connected with this old family. Thomas, one of the sons, was
the ancestor of the Messrs. Moses and Zacheus Pearson, Mrs. Joel Easterling,
John D. Pearson and Mrs. Rachel Townsend are descended from another.

  Aaron, the other son of Aaron the first, was also a soldier of the Revolution.
He married a Miss Spears and another Aaron was the fruit of this marriage. He in
turn married Miss Ann Vining, who became the mother of several daughters and two
sons, Thomas, who moved to Alabama, and the late John Pearson, of Bruten's Fork,
who, at an advanced age, passed away only a few years ago. It is fit that credit
be given him for much information embodied within these pages. His health was
remarkably preserved, and his vigor of body and mind, when past four-score, was
a marvel. Not only did he love to live over in thought the scenes and enjoyments
of his earlier years, and to tell of his experiences as a soldier of the war of
1812, but he manifested a lively interest in passing events, and the employments
of people of another generation.

  The Haskews mentioned in connection with the Pearsons are worthy of a more
special notice. Two of these old men are remembered. John is entitled to a place
among the old heroes of the Revolution. His name is upon Marion's muste'r roll
as " John Askew," the initial H omitted, and yet no difficulty was found in
proving his claim to a pension when so many living witnesses were found to
testify to his presence and services. Quiet, inoffensive old man! At a great age
he was thrown from a vehicle in which he was riding and received fatal injuries.
Thomas H. Haskew is a grandson. Zacheus was the other brother, a younger man
than John, and more successful in the affairs of this life. He was the father of
the excellent ladies, Mrs. Donaldson and Mrs. Bruce, from both of whom many good
young people have sprung. A sister of these old men married a Mr. Britton, a son
of whom, Hugh Britton, is remembered as one of the fine-looking young men of
Brownsville society in the thirties.

  In 1756 James Sweeny is supposed to have come to the Pee Dee. In some way the
name was subsequently changed to Henagan. James Sweeny had a son, Barney, Who
had two sons, Darby and John. Darby was the father of B. K., Ephraim L. and Mrs.
McCollum and Mrs. Lewis E. Stubbs. Dr. B. K. Henagan was not only prominent as a
practicing physician fifty years ago, but as a politician also. In 1834 his
people elected him to the State Senate and the Legislature elected him
Lieutenant-Governor, and upon the death of Governor Noble, he was sworn in and
filled out the unexpired term. He subsequently moved to Marion and was sent to
the legislature again. Dr. Henagan's first wife was a Miss Gibson, an excellent
lady, who became the mother of four sons and two daughters. One of these became
the fourth wife of the late A. G. Johnson. The other married a Mr. Northrop.
Only one of the splendid sons remains, Robert, who resides in the Florence
neighborhood. Ephraim L. Henagan, a brother of the Governor, was in his day one
of Marlboro's most popular men. He served a term in the office of sheriff and
never sought position any more, but retired to his farm and devoted his great
energies to the education and maintenance of his large and interesting family.
His wife was Miss Nancy Mclnnis. Noble woman! Well she filled her place.

  The first son in this family was John W., who never asked a position of the
people that was not given him. He was sheriff of the county and a member of the
Legislature in 1860-61, and in the militia had risen to a brigadier's commission
when the war between the States came on; and at the first organization of the
Eighth Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers he was elected Lieutenant-Colonel
and at the reorganization became Colonel. In one of the engagements in Virginia
he fell into the hands of the enemy and, like thousands more, died a prisoner,
True to his country, beloved by his command, respected by his superiors, his
death was a loss to his people, Other members of this family live to honor the
name.

  Connected with the Henagans, in the writer's memory, was Capt. Francis Miles,
then an old man, in 1830. His wife, Mrs. Lucretia, was an aunt to the Henagans.
This ancient couple had but a single child who bore the father's name, Francis,
a gifted, modest young man capable of filling any position, but his great
diffidence held him back. When past the meridian of life he married his cousin,
Amanda Henagan, and an only daughter resides in Alabama.

  The Bruces have been for a long time in Brownsville. Wright Bruce married a
widow, Cooper, and two sons, Joseph and Caleb, were given them, both of whom
have left families in the vicinity. The Procters, Johnsons and Brigmans have
also been upon the ground for many years. At a later date came the Aliens, an
excellent addition to the population—a mother with two sons and several
daughters—from North Carolina. The two sons, Thompson and Joel, by the modest
exhibition of real worth, soon took rank with the best citizens, and their sons
after them still hold it.

  Thomas J. J. DuPre came about 1830, bringing a family of young children, whose
descendants are yet upon the ground. Simon Emanuel long lived in the community
conducting a mercantile business. Of all these and more much might be penned,
but justice to other portions of the county demands space in these pages. The
names of two Burkitts, Ephraim and Samuel, must close our sojourn around the
spot where our first infant steps were made. These old Burkitts, humble men
though they were, wrote their names upon an honor roll with their swords in the
days that tried men's souls, and, although the name is no more answered to in
Marlboro, yet it is fit that it have mention here. Fifty years ago there were
two or three families living in this old neighborhood bearing the name, but,
like hundreds more, they have been swept westward by the tide of emigration, and
have gone to people other States toward the setting sun. Let this chapter be
closed with the record that, for the first fifty years of the present century,
there was no place in Marlboro where the educational advantages were any better,
if so good, as in Brownsville. The old men whose names have been given in these
sketches sought the best talent to teach their children, and, for a time, young
people from other and distant portions of the country crowded the academy. Peter
Stuart Ney, said to have been the French marshal, was teaching here when
Napoleon I. died on Helena. Here Sinclair, the first husband of Mrs. Nancy Cook,
did faithful work. Kenneth Black, another noted teacher, here swayed the birch.
Brown and McNab, young men "apt to teach," served their patrons well, and here
it was that Donald Matheson was first introduced to the people of Marlboro, and
introduced as an instructor of youth. Fair-faced, ruddy young Scotchman he was,
but an intelligent, cultured gentleman. The elements of his character were of
the robust, stern, muscular kind, rather than of the gentle and winning. For
wrong-doing, meanness and vice he could have no patience, but loved truth,
justice and right. His manner, to some, appeared distant, stern; even cold:
Still he had a heart loving, true and warm, ready to respond to the touch of
friendship, the cry of distress, the call of his country, and the needs of his
church.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

A HISTORY OF MARLBORO COUNTY,
WITH
TRADITIONS AND SKETCHES OF NUMEROUS FAMILIES.

REV. J. A. W. THOMAS, AUTHOR.

A wonderful stream is the river Time
  As it runs through the realms of tears 
With a faultless rhythm and a musical rhyme,
And a broader sweep and a surge sublime
  As it blends with the ocean of years.
                        —TENNYSON.

ATLANTA, GA.:
THE FOOTE & DAVIES COMPANY,
Printers and Binders.
1897.


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